9 December
Hog Toy Run
About 1500 Geelong motorcyclists will get on their bikes in the spirit of Christmas for the 26th annual Hog Toy Run.
The charitable riders will collect donations, toys, non-perishable food and vouchers for Bethany Family Services, Geelong Hospital Children’s Ward, Cottage by the Sea and The Sanctuary Counselling Service.
The ride leaves Deakin Waterfront Carpark and finishes at Princess Park Queenscliff, where there will be entertainment, food and auctions.
Deakin University waterfront carpark
Central Geelong
14 December to 27 January
Torquay Hotel Summer Series
Melbourne rock legends The Living End lead a big line-up of contemporary Australian bands in a dozen gigs on the Surf Coast this summer.
From classic Aussie anthems like Prisoner of Society, to new track Don’t Lose It, The Living End will have the mosh pit jumping on Boxing Day.
San Cisco and Cosmic Psychos will also feature among the gigs at Torquay Hotel over December and January.
Torquay Hotel
Torquay
16 December to 13 January
Big Bash League
Big hitters, wily spinners and lightning-fast bowlers come to Kardinia Park for an all-out slog-fest when the Big Bash League returns to Geelong this summer.
The T20 fixture features two Geelong double-headers, with Melbourne Renegades’ men and women cricketers both playing on 3 and 13 January.
The Renegades will also take on Brisbane Heat on 16 December at Geelong Cricket Ground in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Kardinia Park Stadium
South Geelong
24 December
Geelong Carols by Candlelight
’Tis the concert to be jolly when Geelong Carols by Candlelight returns to the revamped Johnstone Park on Christmas Eve.
Some of Geelong’s best artists and choirs, a local concert band and the Mik Maks will perform at the free event, which has been a family-favourite since 1965.
Johnstone Park
Central Geelong
29 December
Rip to River
About 1500 runners, and those getting a head-start on their New Year’s resolution, will hit the beach in the Rip to River.
Arguably the oldest fun run in Australia, Rip to River is the biggest annual fundraiser for Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club.
Competitors and social trotters alike will run 10km from ‘The Rip’ at Point Lonsdale to Ocean Grove, near Barwon River.
Pt Lonsdale Beach
Point Lonsdale
31 December to 1 January
Bluestone Blues Festival hails in the New Year with an impressive line-up of classic and original music from Australian legends and emerging artists down the Hamilton Hwy.
Marco Goldsmith, Simon Kinny-Lewis Band, Catfish Voodoo, Dollar 20 Blues Band and Louis King all feature in Sleepy Hollow Blues Club’s 23rd annual festival.
Liars Klub will bring in the New Year while Wayne Jury 4, Rhythm X Revival, P J O’Brien Band and McNaMarr Project will play a recovery session on 1 January.
Murgheboluc Reserve
Murgheboluc
18 January to 13 February
Les Miserables
After an absence of six years Jean Valjean and his compatriots return to Geelong in a local production of musical-theatre classic Les Miserables.
Footlight Productions recreates one of the best-known musicals of all time with Geelong-based actors.
Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Central Geelong
26 January
Australia Day
City of Greater Geelong’s Australia Day celebrations return to Rippleside Park with more than 40 free activities and displays for families to enjoy.
Musicians, magicians, giveaways, costumes, rides, puppets, emergency service displays and more, it’s all part of Geelong’s annual celebration.
Rippleside Park
Rippleside
26 to 27 January
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Local lovers of pelotons will rejoice when thousands of elite cyclists come to Geelong for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race over Australia Day weekend.
The internationally-endorsed elite men’s (174km) and women’s (113km) races return, with 4000 amateur pedallers also set to take on 35km, 65km and 111km courses in the People’s Ride.
The event takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast.
Various locations in Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast
26 to 28 January
Geelong Festival of Sails
Sails will fill Corio Bay over the Australia Day long weekend in Geelong’s celebration of everything yachting and boating.
Festival of Sails, first held in 1844, is the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere with more than 300 yacht entries and 3000 competitors annually.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club
Central Geelong
7 February
Troy Cassar-Daley – Greatest Hits
In 30 years of music Troy Cassar-Daley has notched up 36 Golden Guitars, four ARIAs and 31 number one singles on the Australian country charts.
He comes to Geelong Performing Arts centre, when he hits the road in 2019 for his national Greatest Hits tour.
Cassar-Daley will sing his songs and tell the stories behind them in a way only he can.
Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Central Geelong
21 to 23 February
Bennelong
Acclaimed as “ravishingly beautiful”, “utterly searing” and “a benchmark in Australian dance creativity”, Bennelong is Aboriginal theatre at its best.
The show explores the life of iconic Aboriginal figure Woollarawarre Bennelong, who served as a diplomat between the Euroa people and the English, after they landed in 1788.
Director Stephen Page brings the story of Bennelong to life through dance language, soul-stirring soundscapes and exquisite design.
Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Central Geelong
